PELGRIMM is a 4 year project, addressing Minor-Actinide (MA) bearing fuel developments for Generation IV Fast Reactor Systems to support the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) of the European Sustainable Nuclear Energy –Technology Platform (SNE-TP). Both options, MA homogeneous recycle in driver fuels with MA content at a few percent, and heterogeneous recycle on UO2 fuels bearing high MA contents, located in the radial core blanket, are considered. Two fuel forms (pellet and spherepac) will be investigated. Indeed, spherepac technology (that leads to production of beads that can be directly loaded in pins) is attractive regarding MA-bearing fuels as it would lead to a significant simplification of the fabrication process and to a better accommodation of solid swelling (compared to pellets) under irradiation. These developments extend Europe’s leading role in this area.

A total of 12 partners from research institutions, education establishments and industries will collaborate to share and leverage their skills, progress and achievements, covering a comprehensive set of investigations: fuel fabrication, fuel behaviour under irradiation through an irradiation test and the execution of Post Irradiation Examinations, modelling and simulation of fuel behaviour and performance under irradiation, from normal operating conditions to severe accidents, and finally by providing unique education and training possibilities.

Finally, synergies will be sought with other ongoing European projects. Furthermore, the PELGRIMM project will contribute actively to the EURATOM’s contribution to Generation IV International Forum (especially SFR).